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VTNDTCATfON 

Ol' THK 

CAPTOKS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 

J' 






NO. III. 



VINDICATION 



CAPTORS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 



EGBERT BENSON. 




NEW YORK: 

REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SARIN. 

18G5. 






200 ccpies printed. 
50 cojnes on large paper. 



RIVEBSIDE, OAMBRIDOE: 
PBINTBD BY H. 0. UOUOnTON AND COMPANY. 



VINDICATION 



THE CAPTORS 



OF MAJOR ANDRE. 



NP:W YORK 



PUBLISHED BY KIRK AND MERCKIN, 

AT THE OFFICE OF THE KDINIiUROII AND QUARTERLY KEVIEWi 
NO. 22 WALL-STKEET. 

']'. & W. Mcrcchi, rriutcrs, No. 'J3 Gold-Street. 
1817. 



VINDICATION 



CAPTORS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 



"congress HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

"JANUARY lo, 1817. 

" Mr. Chappell made a Report unfavourable 
to the petition of John Paulding, (one of the 
citizens who captured the British Adjutant Gen- 
eral Major Andre, during the late Revolutionary 
War,) who prays for an increase of the pension 
allowed to him by government in consequence 
of that service. 

"A debate of no little interest arose on this 
question, the early part of which our reporter 
did not hear. 

" Mr. Wright moved to reverse the report of 
the committee, and to declare that the prayer 
of the petitioner ought to be granted. 

" The report was opposed by Messrs. Wright, 
Smith of Md., Gold, Forsyth, Robertson, and 
Sharp, on the ground of the importance of the 

2 



10 

services of this person and his companions, the 
niaonitude of the virtue thev displaved, and the 
justice of making such an addition to the pen- 
sion allowed to them, as should keep pace with 
the depreciation of money since the amount of 
that pension was established. The report was 
supported by Messrs. Chappell, Jewitt, Tall- 
madge, and Pickering, on the injustice of legis- 
lating on a single case of pension for services, 
which were, in fact, though important, but the 
connnon duty of every citizen, and in which no 
disability was incurred ; whilst there were many 
survivors of the Kevolution, whom the favour 
of the government had not distinguished, and 
who are languishing in obscurity and want, and 
to whom no relief had been or would be ex- 
tended. 

" What gave interest principally to the debate, 
wvas the disclosure, by Mr. Tallmadge of Con- 
necticut, (an officer at the time, and connnand- 
ing the advance guard when Major Andre was 
brought in,) of his view of the merit of this 
transaction, with which history and the records 
of the country have made every man familiar. 
The value of the service he did not deny, 
but, on the authority of the declarations of 
Major Andre, (made while in the custody of 
Colonel Tallmadge,) he gave it as his opinion 
that, if Major Andre could have given to these 



11 

men the amount they demanded for hi.s release, 
he never would have l)een hung for a spy, nor 
in captivity on th.at occasion. Mr. T's state- 
ment was minutely circumstantial, and given 
with expressions of his individual confidence in 
its correctness. Among; other circumstances, 
he stated, that when Major Andre's boots were 
taken off by them, it was to search for plunder, 
and not to detect treason. These persons, in- 
deed, he said, were of that class of people who 
passed between both armies ; as often in one 
camp as the other, and whom, had he met with 
them, he should probably as soon have appre- 
hended as Major Andre, as he had always made 
it a rule to do with these suspicious persons. 
The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of 
Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of wdiich this is a 
brief abstract, was, that these j^ersons had 
brought in Major Andre, only because they 
shonld probably get more for his apprehension 
than his release. 

" This statement was received with surprise 
and incredulity, as to Major Andre's correctness, 
by the gentlemen on the other side of the ques- 
tion. It was very extraordinary, it was said, 
that at a day so much nearer the transaction 
than at the present, there had existed no doubt 
on the subject, and Congress, as a mark of pub- 
lic (gratitude for their honourable conduct on 



12 

this important occasion, settled on these per- 
sons pensions for life. Though testimony was 
strongly stated by one of the gentlemen (Gen- 
eral Smith) to Major Andre's high character and 
honour, it was impossible, it was said, that the 
character and conduct of the men should have 
been at this day represented, yet so differently 
depicted. The statement of Major Andre, sub- 
ject as it must have been to be discoloured by 
the misapprehensions of the character and mo- 
tives of Americans, among whom patriotism 
pervades every rank in life, it was urged, ought 
to have no weight, indeed it ought not to have 
been mentioned, in competition with facts on 
record, and established by full investigation, dur- 
ing the life-time of General Washington, who 
certainly knew all the circumstances of the 
transaction. 

'' Though this topic made a prominent figure 
in the debate, it is jDerhaps proper to say, that 
the question was decided on the ground taken 
in the report, and above stated as having been 
urged in the debate in fivour of it. 

"A motion was made by Mr, Forsyth, (and 
lost,) to postpone the report, to give further 
time to examine the correctness of the extraor- 
dinary view of the subject, which had been pre- 
sented by Mr. Tallmadge. 

" It was moved to nmend the resolution, so 



13 



as to direct the committee to report a bill for 
increasing the compensation of the other two 
of the captors of Major Andre yet snrviving, 
as well as of the petitioner, which motion was 
negatived. 

"The question on the reversing the report 
of the committee was decided in the negative ; 
ayes 53, noes 80 or 90. 

" Mr. Little having made an unsnccessful mo- 
tion to postpone the further consideration of 
the report, in the hope that a full examination 
would be made of the question to-day raised as 
to the merits of these men, whom history de- 
scribed as pure and incorruptible patriots, and 
whom he fully believed to have been so : — 

"The rejDort was agreed to." 



From the New York Courier, Februart/ IS, 1817, — Mr. 
Barent Gardenier the Editor. 

" Vindication of Van Wart^ Paulding, and Williams, 
the three virtuous and patriotic American Yeomen, 
ivho arrested 3Iajor Andre. 

" Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, a niend)er of 
the House of Representatives of the United 
States, in a speech which he lately delivered 
in that body, ventured to ascribe to the cele- 
brated captors of Andre, a character the most 
infamous and detestable; and to their conduct, 
on that occasion, motives the most sordid and 



14 



odious, lie accused these men of being as often 
in the camp of the enemies of their country, 
as in our own ; of being men, destitute not 
only of patriotism, but of common honesty and 
honour ; of belonging to that detestable gang 
usually known by the name of coiv-boi/s. He 
charged them, in effect, therefore, with being 
the vilest of thieves and robbers ; and in doing 
so, represented General Washington and the 
Congress as bestowing the public praise and 
the public bounty upon wretches, utterly base 
and contemptible, from mere motives of policy. 
There was, in this attempt, an intrepidity *vor- 
thy of a better cause ; but at the same time a 
rashness which he will never cease to repent. 
Col. Tallmadge has endeavoured to tear the 
fairest leaf from our history, and to deprive the 
yeomenry of our country of a theme in wliicli 
the}^ gloried, and of an example, whose influ- 
ence is not less extensive and important, than 
was that of the immortal William Tell. If he 
has done so, when there was the least possibil- 
ity that he might be in an error, he could never 
upon reflection justify himself But if he has 
done so upon slight, upon very slight grounds ; 
not from his own knowledge, but from the cal- 
innnies of the envious, and the mere suspicions 
of an enemy, he has incurred a responsibility 
which he must meet ; a responsibility, from 



15 



which the personal respect with which he may 
have been heretofore regarded, ought not to 
protect him, nor general coincidence of polit- 
ical opinion to release him. 

" Upon what grounds did the Colonel accuse 
these men of being coiv-bo?/s ? of being as often 
in the enemy's camp, as in our own ? Did 
he know the facts ? If he did, he must have 
seen them steal ; he must have seen them in 
the enemy's camp ! But he does not pretend 
this. What then is the evidence of these facts ? 
At most, hearsay — which imjht indeed be true 
— but it might also be, as in fact it was, false. 
This evidence was assuredly too loose for the 
charge he advanced — against men whose ser- 
vice had certainly been important ; and who, 
absent, were not in a condition to justify them- 
selves. The Colonel is a Christian. Did he 
here observe the golden rule ? The Colonel 
has his enemies : how would he feel, if the com- 
munity should judge of his character, by ihetr 
calumnies ? 

'' The utmost that can be said in palliation 
of Col. Tallmadge's conduct, is, that he believed 
what he said to be true. He believed them to 
be cow-boy plunderers, because he heard so ! 
He believed they would have permitted Andre 
to proceed, if he had had more to give them, 
because Andre said he was of that opinion ! 



16 



Upon such groinuls the Colonel employed the 
weight of his character, and the authority of 
his place, to consign to infamy the three men 
who had saved West Point and the army ! 

" There is not a court of justice in Chris- 
tendom which would not spurn such evidence. 
There can, therefore, be no fear that it will be 
received by a grateful people. And although 
we are fidly persuaded that nothing has ap- 
peared to put the accused iipon their defence, 
yet we proceed, gratuitously, to lay before our 
readers such conclusive testimony as will sat- 
isfy the whole world. 

"At first, as to these men being cow-bof/s. 
Their neighbours would be, of all others, most 
likely to know the fact, if it were so : and the 
annexed certificate from men, aged and vener- 
able, will show that they were not even sus- 
pected. But the oath of Mr. Van Wart is 
decisive. 

"As to the second point, whether the captors 
of Andre would have released him for a very 
large bribe, provided he could immediately 
have paid it, that is a circumstance which 
could be known only h// themselves. And Mr. 
Van Wart expressly denies the imputation in 
the annexed affidavit. 

" The only possible question that can remain 
is, whether the witness is worthy of credit. To 



17 

this point, we bring men who have known him 
from his infancy ; men, whose venerable hairs 
are silvered by age ; they speak to us from 
the verge of the grave ; and they unite in the 
declaration that no man is more entitled to be 
believed, than Isaac Van Wart ! 

" The nature of the case does not admit of 
testimony more precise, perfect and conclusive. 
The refutation is solemnly sworn to, and by a 
man who, in moral and religious deportment 
during a long life, has had no superior." 



Isaac Van Wart's affidavit. 
" Isaac Van Wart, of the town of Mount 
Pleasant, in the county of Westchester, being 
duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is 
one of the three persons who arrested Major 
Andre, during the American revolutionary war, 
and conducted him to the American camp. 
That he, this deponent, together with David 
Williams and John Paulding, had secreted 
themselves at the side of the high-way, for 
the purpose of detecting any persons coming 
from or having unlawful intercourse with the 
enemy, being between the two armies ; a ser- 
vice not uncommon in those times. That this 
deponent and his companions were armed with 
muskets ; and upon seeing Major Andre ap- 
proach the place where they were concealed, 

3 



18 



they rose and presented their muskets at him, 
and required him to stop, which he did. He 
then asked them whether they helonged to his 
party ? and then they asked him which was his 
party ? to which he rephed, the lower party. 
Upon which they, deeming a Httle stratagem, 
under such circumstances, not only justifiable, 
but necessary, gave him to understand that 
they were of his party : upon which he joy- 
fully declared himself to be a British officer, 
and told them, that he had been out upon very 
particular business. Having ascertained thus 
much, this deponent and his companions un- 
deceived him as to their characters, declaring 
themselves Americans, and that he must con- 
sider himself their prisoner. Upon this, with 
seeming unconcern, he said he had a pass from 
General Arnold, which he exhibited, and then 
insisted on their permitting him to proceed. 
But they told him that as he had confessed 
himself to be a British officer, they deemed it 
to be their duty to convey him to the American 
camp ; and then took him into a wood, a short 
distance from the highway, in order to guard 
against being surprised b}^ parties of the ene- 
my, who were frequently reconnoitering in that 
neighbourhood. That when they had him in 
the wood, they proceeded to search him, for 
the purpose of ascertaining who and what he 



19 



was, and found inside of his stockings and 
boots next to his l)are feet, papers, which sat- 
isfied them that he was a spy. Major Andre 
now showed them his gold watch, and re- 
marked, that it was evidence of his being a 
gentleman, and also promised to make them 
any reward the}^ might name, if they would 
but permit him to proceed, which they refused. 
He then told them, that if they doubted the 
fulfilment of his promise, they might conceal 
him in some secret place, and keep him there, 
until they could send to New-York, and receive 
their reward. And this deponent expressly de- 
clares, that every offer made by Major Andre 
to them was promptly and resolutely refused. 
And as for himself, he solemnly declares, that 
he had not, and he does most sincerely believe 
that Paulding and Williams had not, any in- 
tention of plundering their prisoner ; nor did 
they confer witli each other, or even hesitate, 
whether they should accept his promises, but 
on the contrary they were, in the opinion of 
this deponent, governed, like himself, by a 
deep interest in the cause of the country, tind 
a strong sense of duty. And this deponent 
further says, that he never visited the British 
camp, nor does he believe or suspect that 
either Paulding or Williams ever did. except 
that Paulding was once before Andre's cap- 



20 



tiire, and once afterwards, made a prisoner by 
the British, as this deponent has been informed 
and beUeves. And this deponent for himself 
expressly denies that he ever held any unlaw- 
ful traffic or any intercourse whatever with 
the enemy. And — appealing solemnly to that 
omniscient Beino-, at whose tribunal he must 
soon appear, he doth expressly declare that all 
accusations, charging him therewith, are utterly 
untrue. ISAAC VAN WART." 

Sworn before me this 28th day > jacOB RADCLTFF, 
ot January, IHI i . ) 

Maijor. 

" We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the 
county of Westchester, do certify, that during 
the revolutionary war we were well acquainted 
with Isaac Van Wart, David Williams, and John 
Paulding, who arrested Major Andre ; and that 
at no time during the revolutionary war, was 
any suspicion ever entertained by their neigh- 
bours or acquaintances that they or either of 
them held any undue intercourse with the ene- 
my. (3n the contrary, they were universally 
esteemed, and taken to be ardent, and laithful 
in the cause of the country. We further cer- 
tify, that the said Paulding and Williams are 
not now resident among us, but that Isaac Van 
AVart is a resjiectable freeholder of the town of 
Mount Pleasant; that we are well acquainted 
with him ; and we do not hesitate to declare 



21 



our belief, that there is not an individual in the 
county of Westchester, acquainted with Isaac 
Van Wart, who would not hesitate to describe 
him as a man of a sober, moral, industrious and 
religious life — as a man whose integrity is as 
unimpeachable as his veracity is undoubted. 
In these respects no man in the county of 
Westchester is his superior. 

JONATHAN G. TOMPKINS, aged 31 years. 
JACOB PURDY, aged 77 years. 
JOHN ODELL, aged 60 years. 
JOHN BOYCE, aged 72 years. 
J. REQUA, aged 57 years. 
WILLIAM PAULDING, aged 81 years. 
JOHN REQUA, aged 54 years. 
ARCHER READ, aged 61 years. 
GEORGE COMB, aged 72 years. 
GILBERT DEAN, aged 70 years. 
JONATHAN ODELL, aged 87 years. 
CORNELIUS VANTASSEL, aged 71 years. 
THOMAS BOYCE, aged 71 years. 
TUNIS LYNT, aged 71 years. 
JACOBUS DYCKMAN, aged 68 years. 
WILLIAM HAMMOND, 
JOHN ROMER." 



John Paulding's affidavit. 
John Paulding, of the county of Westchester, 
one of the persons who took Major Andre, be- 
ing duly sworn, saith, that he was three times 



22 



during the revolutionary war a prisoner with 
the enemy : — the first time he was taken at 
the White Plains, when under the command of 
Captain Requa, and carried to New- York, and 
confined in the Sugar House. The second time 
he was taken near Tarry Town, when under 
the command of Lieutenant Peacock, and con- 
fined in the North Dutch Church, in New-York : 
— that both these times he escaped, and the last 
of them only four days before the capture of An- 
dre : — that the last time he was taken he was 
wounded, and lay in the hospital in New-York, 
and was discharged on the arrival of the news 
of peace there: — that he and his companions. 
Van Wart and Williams, among other articles 
which they took from Major Andre, were his 
watch, horse, saddle, and bridle, and which they 
retained as prize : — that they delivered over 
Andre, with the papers found on him, to Col- 
onel Jameson, who commanded on the lines: — 
that shortly thereafter they were summoned to 
appear as witnesses at the head-quarters of Gen- 
eral Washington, at Tappan : — that they were 
at Tappan some days, and examined as wit- 
nesses before the court martial on the trial 
of Smith, who brought Andre ashore from on 
board the sloop of war: — that while there. Col- 
onel William S. Smith redeemed the watch from 
theui for thirty guineas ; which, and the money 



23 



received for the horse, saddle, and bridle, they 
divided equally among themselves and four 
other persons, who belonged to their party, 
but when Andre was taken, were about half 
a mile off, keeping a lookout on a hill : — that 
Andre had no gold or silver money with him, 
but only some continental bills, to the amount 
of about eighty dollars : — that the medals given 
to him and Van Wart and Williams, by Con- 
gress, were presented to them by General 
Washington, when the army was encamped at 
Verplanck's Point, and that they on the occa- 
sion dined at his table : — that Williams removed 
some years ago from Westchester County to 
the northern part of the state, but where, par- 
ticularly, the deponent does not know. And 
the deponent, referring to the affidavit of Van 
Wart, taken on the 28th January last, and 
which he has read, says that the same is in 
substance true. JOHN PAULDING. 

Sworn before me this 6th | cHARLES G. VAN VVYCK, 
day of May, 1817. ) 

Master in Chancery. 

The folloiving is from the Courier of March 24dh, 

1817 — Mr. Dwight the Editor. 

''''From the National Intelligencer. 

"CASE OF MAJOR ANDRE. 

" Messrs Gales and Seaton., 

" This case having been brought promi- 
nently into public view recently, by Mr. Tall- 



24 



madge's statement on the floor of the House of 
Representatives ; and you having pubHshed the 
remarks of the New-York Courier on it, I re- 
quest the favour of you, in justice to Mr. Tall- 
madge, since the subject has been agitated, to 
give place to the following article from the 
Gleanor, printed at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, 
"lam, &c. Z." 

^'- From the Gleanor. 
" The disclosure recently made by Col. Tall- 
madge, in the House of Representatives, rela- 
tive to the capture of Major Andre, seems not 
to have been received in every instance with 
the confidence to which it was certainly enti- 
tled. That gentleman related what he saw and 
knew ; and those who are attempting to dis- 
pute him, relate only what they have been in- 
formed of To those of our readers who may 
not have seen the report of Col. Tallmadge's 
remarks, it may be proper to observe, that 
those three men who captured Major Andre, 
applied to Congress for an increase of the pen- 
sion settled on them by government, and that 
when this application was under consideration, 
Col. Tallmadge (a member from Connecticut) 
rose and stated, that having been the officer to 
whom the care of Andre was intrusted, he had 
heard Andre declare that those men robbed 



25 



him, and upon his offer to reward them for 
taking him to the British lines, he beHeves 
they declined only from the impossibility of 
giving them sufficient security, &c. ; and that it 
was not patriotism, but the hope of gain, which 
induced them to deliver him to the Americans. 
To this declaration of Col. Tallmadge, and in 
support of his opinion, we are happy to have 
it in our jDOwer to ofier the following corrobo- 
rating testimony. 

" There is now living in this town a gentle- 
man who was an officer in the Massachusetts 
line, and who was particularly conversant in all 
the circumstances of that transaction. It was 
this gentleman who, in company with captain 
Hughes, composed the special guard of Andre 
person — was with him during the last twenty- 
fours of his life, and supported him to the place 
of execution. From him we have received the 
following particulars : — it is needless to say we 
give them our implicit belief, since to those 
who are acquainted with the person to whom 
we allude, no other testimony is ever necessary 
than his simple declaration. 

"To this gentleman Andre himself related, 
that he was passing down a hill, at the foot 
of which, under a tree playing cards, were the 
three men who took him. They were close 
by the road side, and he had approached very 



26 



near them before either party discovered the 
other : upon seeing him, they instantly rose 
and seized their rifles. They approached him, 
and demanded who he was ? He immediately 
answered, that he was a British officer ; suppos- 
ing, from their being so near the British lines, 
that they belonged to that party. They then 
seized him, robbed him of the few guineas which 
he had with him, and the two watches which he 
then wore, one of gold and the other of sil- 
ver. He offered to reward them if they would 
take him to New- York ; they hesitated ; and in 
his (Andre's) opinion, the reason why they did 
not do so, was the impossibility on his part to 
secure to them the performance of the promise. 

" He informs also, that it was an opinion too 
prevalent to admit of any doubt, that these men 
were of that description of persons usually 
called " cow-boys," or those who, without being 
considered as belonging to either party, made 
it a business to pillage from both. He has 
frequently heard it expressed at that time by 
several officers, who were personally acquainted 
with all these men, and who could not have 
been mistaken in their general characters. 

Andre frequently spoke of the kindness of 
the American officers, and particularly of the 
attention of Major Tallmadge ; and on the way 
to the place of execution, sent for that officer 



:^i 



to come near him, that he might learn the 
manner in which he was to die." 



Extract from cm Act of the Legislature of the 24ith 
June, 1780, " more effectually to prevetU sujjjjUes of 
cattle to Hie enemy.'''' 

"That it shall be lawful for any person to 
take, seize, and convert to his own use, all cat- 
tle and beef driven or removed from any place 
to the northward, to any place to the south- 
ward of a line in the county of Westchester, 
assigned by the Governor for that purpose." 

This extract from the law is furnished to 
show that these persons were not only war- 
ranted, but were, meritoriously, in the service 
in which they were engaged, intercejDting sup- 
plies to the enemy ; and to meet the fact, and 
the inference insinuated from it, that not being 
regularly called out, and under the command 
of an officer, it must be intended they were 
there for improper purposes. 



Extracts of letters from General Washington 
TO the president of congress. 

'•'' Robinson^ s House, in the Highlands, 
Sept. 26, 1780. 
" Sir, 

"I have the honour to inform Congress, that 
I arrived here yesterday, about twelve o'clock, 
on my return from Hartford. Some hours pre- 



^ 28 

vioiis to my arrival, Major-General Arnold went 
from his quarters, which were at this place, and, 
as it was supposed, over the river to the garri- 
son at West-Point, whither I proceeded myself 
in order to visit the post. I found General Ar- 
nold had not been there during the day, and on 
my return to his quarters he was still absent. 
In the mean time, a packet had arrived from 
Lieut. Col. Jameson, announcing the capture of 
a John Anderson, who was endeavouring to go 
to New- York, with several interesting and im- 
portant papers, all in the hand-writing of Gen- 
eral Arnold. This was also accompanied with 
a letter from the prisoner, avowing himself to 
be Major John Andre, Adjutant-General to the 
British army, relating the manner of his cap- 
ture, and endeavouring to show that he did not 
come under the description of a spy. From 
these several circumstances, and information 
that the General seemed to be thrown into 
some degree of agitation, on receiving a letter 
a little time before he went from his quarters, 
I was led to conclude immediately that he had 
heard of Major Andre's captivity, and that he 
would, if possible, escape to the enemy, and ac- 
cordingly took such measures as appeared the 
most probable to apprehend him. But he had 
embarked in a barge and proceeded down the 
river, under a flag, to the Vulture ship of war, 



29 



which hij at some miles below Stoney and Ver- 
plank's Points. He wrote me a letter after he 
got on board. Major Andre is not yet arrived, 
but I hope he is secure, and that he will be 
here to-day. I have been and am taking pre- 
cautions, which I trust will prove effectual to 
prevent the important consequences which this 
conduct, on the part of General Arnold, was in- 
tended to produce. I do not know the party 
that took Major Andre, but it is said that it 
consisted only of a few militia, who acted in 
such a manner upon the occasion as does them 
the highest honour, and proves them to be 
men of great virtue. As soon as I know their 
names, I shall take pleasure in transmitting 
them to Congress." 

''Paramus, October 7, 1780. 
"Sir, 

'• I have the honour to enclose Congress a 
copy of the Proceedings of a Board of General 
Officers in the case of Major Andre, Adjutant- 
General to the British army. This officer was 
executed, in pursuance of the opinion of the 
Board, on Monday, the 2d instant, at twelve 
o'clock, at our late Camp at Tappan. Besides 
the proceedings, I transmit copies of sundry 
letters respecting the matter, which are all that 
passed on the subject, not included in the pro- 
ceedings. 



30 



"I have now the pleasure to communicate 
the names of the three persons who captured 
Major Andre, and who refused to release him, 
notwithstanding the most earnest importunities, 
and assurances of a liberal reward on his part. 
Their names are John Paulding, David Williams, 
and Isaac Van Wart" 

rROCEEDINGS OF A BOARD OF GENERAL OFFICERS, 

Held by order of his Excellency General Washin(/to7i, 
Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States 
of America, respecting Major Andre, Adjutant- G-eji- 
eral of the British Army, September the 'i^th, 1780, 
at Tappan, in the State of New - York. 

PRESENT, 

Major-General Greene, President, 
Major-General Lord Stirling, 
Major-General St. Clair, 
Major-General The Marquis de la Fayette, 
Major-General Howe, 
Major-General The Baron de Steuben, 
Brigad ier-General Parsons, 
Brigadier-General Clinton, 
Brigadier-General Knox, 
Brigadier-General Glover, 
Brigadier-General Patterson, 
Brigadier-General Hand, 
Brigadier-General Huntington, 
Brigadier-General Starke, 

John Lawrance, Judge Advocate Gen. 



31 



Major John Andre, Adjutant-General to the 
British army, was brought before the Board, 
and the followino; letter from General Washing;- 
ton to the Board, dated Head-Quarters, Tappan, 
September 29th, 1780, was laid before them, 
and read. 

" Gentlemen, 

" Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the Brit- 
ish army, w^ill be brought before you for your 
examination. He came within our lines in the 
night, and on an interview wdth Major-General 
Arnold, and in an assumed character -, and was 
taken within our lines, in a disguised habit, 
with a pass under a feigned name, and with 
the enclosed papers concealed upon him. After 
a careful examination, you will be pleased, as 
speedily as possible, to report a precise state of 
his case, together with your opinion of the light 
in which he ought to be considered, and the 
punishment that ought to be inflicted. The 
Judge Advocate w^ill attend to assist in the ex- 
amination, who has sundry other papers, rela- 
tive to this matter, which he will lay before the 
Board. " I have the honour to be. 

Gentlemen, 

Your most obedient, 
and humble servant, 

G. Washington. 
" The Board of General Officers, 
convened at Tappan'' 



32 



The names of the Officers composing the 
Board were read to Major Andre, and on his 
being asked whether he confessed the matters 
contained in the letter from his Excellency 
General Washington to the Board, or denied 
them, he said, in addition to his letter to General 
Washington, dated Salem, the 24:th September, 1780, 
(which was read to the Board, and acknowledged 
by Major Andre to have been written by him,) 
which letter is as follows : 

'' Salem, 2Uh Sept. 1780. 
" Sir, 

" What I have as yet said concerning myself, 
was in the justifiable attempt to be extricated. 
I am too little accustomed to duplicity to have 
succeeded. 

"I beg your Excellency will be persuaded 
that no alteration in the temper of my mind, 
or apprehension for my safety, induces me to 
take the step of addressing you ; but that it is 
to secure myself from an imputation of having 
assumed a mean character for treacherous pur- 
poses or self-interest. A conduct incompatible 
with the principles that actuated me, as well as 
with my condition in life. 

" It is to vindicate my fame that I speak, and 
not to solicit security. 

" The person in your possession is Major John 
Andre, Adjutant-General to the British army. 



33 



"The inflnenoe of one Commander in tlie 
army of his adversary, is an advantage taken 
in war. A correspondence for this pnrpose 1 
held ; as confidential (in the present instance) 
with his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. 

" To favour it, I agreed to meet upon ground, 
not within posts of either army, a person who 
was to give me intelligence. I came up in the 
Vulture man of war for this effect, and was 
fetched, by a boat from the shore, to the beach. 
Being there, I was told that the approach of 
day would prevent my return, and that I must 
be concealed until the next night. I was in 
my regimentals, and had fairly risked my per- 
son. 

"Against my stipulation, my intention, and 
without my knowledge beforehand, I was con- 
ducted within one of your posts. Your Excel- 
lency may conceive my sensation on this occa- 
sion, and will imagine how much more I must 
have been affected, by a refusal to reconduct 
me back the next niorht as I had been brouscht. 
Thus become a prisoner, I had to concert my 
escape. / quitted my uniform, was passed an- 
other way in the night without the American 
posts to neutral ground, and informed I was 
beyond all armed parties, and left to press for 
New-York. I was taken at Tarry-Town by 
some volunteers. 



34 



"Thus, as I have had the lionour to relate, 
was I betrayed (being Adjutant-General of the 
British army) into the vile condition of an ene- 
my in disguise within your posts. 

" Having avowed myself a British officer, I 
have nothing to reveal but what relates to my- 
self, which is true on the honour of an officer 
and a gentleman. 

"The request I have to make your Excel- 
lency, and I am conscious I address myself well, 
is, that in any rigour policy may dictate, a de- 
cency of conduct towards me may mark, that 
thouo;h unfortunate, I am branded with nothino: 
dishonourable, as no motive could be mine but 
the service of my King, and as I was involun- 
tarily an impostor. 

"Another request is, that I may be permitted 
to write an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton, 
and another to a friend for clothes and linen. 

"I take the liberty to mention the condition 
of some gentlemen at Charles-Town, who be- 
ing either on parole or under protection, were 
engaged in a conspiracy against us. Though 
their situation is not similar, they are objects 
who may be set in exchange for me, or are 
persons whom the treatment I receive might 
affect. 

"It is not less. Sir, in a confidence in the 
generosity of your mind, than on account of 



35 



your superior station, that I have chosen to 
importune you with this letter. 

" I have the honour to be, 
with great respect, Sir, 

Your Excellency's most obedient 
and most humble servant, 
JOHN ANDRE, 
Adjutant-General. 
^' His Excellency 
General Washington, 
ko. &c. &c." 

That he came on shore from the Vulture 
sloop of war in the night of the twenty-first of 
September instant, somewhere under the Hav- 
erstraw Mountain : that the boat he came on 
shore in carried no flag, and that he had on a 
surtout coat over his regimentals, and that he 
wore his surtout coat when he was taken : That 
he met General Arnold on the shore, and had 
an interview with him there. He also said, that 
when he left the Vulture sloop of war, it was 
understood that he was to return that night ; 
but it was then doubted, and if he could not re- 
turn, he was promised to be concealed on shore in 
a place of safety, until the next night, when he 
was to return in the same manner he came on 
shore ; and when the next day came, he was 
solicitous to get back, and made inquiries in 



36 



the course of the day, how he should return ; 
when he was informed he could not return 
that way, and he must take the route he did 
afterwards. He also said, that the first notice 
he had of his being within any of cnir posts, was, 
being challenged by the sentry, which was the 
first night he was on shore. He also said, that 
the evening of the twenty-second of Septem- 
ber instant, he passed King's Ferry between our 
posts of Stonei/ and VerplanJc's Points, in the dress 
he is at present in, and which he said was not his 
regimentals, and which dress he procured after 
he landed from the Vulture, and when he was 
within our post, and that he was proceeding to 
New-York, but was taken on his way, at Tarry- 
Town, as he has mentioned in his letter, on 
Saturday the twenty-third of September in- 
stant, about nine o'clock in the morning. 

The following papers were laid before the 
Board, and shown to Major Andre, who con- 
fessed to the Board that they were found on 
him when he was taken, and said they were 
concealed in his boot, except the pass. 

A pass from General Arnold to John Ander- 
son, which nanie Major Andre acknowledged he 
assiirncd : 

Artillery orders, September 5, 1780. 

Estimate of the force at West Point and its 
dependencies, Septeml)cr, 1780. 



37 

Estimate of men to man the works at West 
Point, &c. 

Return of ordnance at West Point, Sept. 1780. 

Remarks on works at West Point. 

Copy of a state of matters laid before a Coun- 
cil of War, by his Excellency General Washing- 
ton, held the 6th of September, 1780. 

The Board having interrogated Major Andre 
about his conception of his coming on shore un- 
der the sanction of a flag, he said, That it was 
impossible for him to suppose he came on shore under 
that sanction ; and added, That if he came on 
shore under that sanction, he certainly might 
have returned imder it. 

Major Andre having acknowledged the pre- 
ceding facts, and being asked whether he had 
any thing to say respecting them, answered, He 
left them to operate with the Board. 

The examination of Major Andre being con- 
cluded, he was remanded into custody. 

The followinsTC letters were laid before the 
Board, and read : — Benedict Arnold's letter to 
General Washington, dated September 25, 1780. 
Colonel Robinson's letter to General Washing- 
ton, dated September 25, 1780, and General 
Clinton's letter, dated 2Gth September, 1780, 
(enclosing a letter of the same date from Bene- 
dict Arnold) to General Washington. 



38 

''On hoard the Vulture, Sept. 25, 1780. 
" Sir, 

" The heart which is conscious of its own rec- 
titude, cannot attempt to palHate a step which 
the world may censure as wrong. I have ever 
acted from a principle of love to my country, 
since the commencement of the present un- 
happy contest between Great Britain and the 
Colonies : the same principle of love to my 
country actuates my present conduct, however 
it may appear inconsistent to the world, who 
very seldom judge right of any man's actions. 

" I have no favour to ask for myself I have 
too often experienced the ingratitude of my 
country to attempt it : but from the known 
humanity of your Excellency, I am induced to 
ask your protection for Mrs. Arnold, from every 
insult and injury that the mistaken vengeance 
of my country may expose her to. It ought to 
fall only on me : she is as good and as innocent 
as an angel, and is incapable of doing wrong. 
1 beg she may be permitted to return to her 
friends in Philadelphia, or to come to me, as 
she may choose. From your Excellency I have 
no fears on her account, but she may suffer 
from the mistaken fury of the country. 

"I have to request that the enclosed letter 
may be delivered to Mrs. Arnold, and she per- 
niitted to write to me. 



39 



" I have also to nsk that my clothes and bag- 
gage, which are of little consequence, may be 
sent to me ; if required, their value shall be 
paid for in money. 

" I have the honour to be, 

with great regard and esteem, 
Your Excellency's most obed't, 
humble servant, 

B. ARNOLD. 
^'^His Excellency 

General WasMngtonr 

" N. B. In justice to the gentlemen of my 
family. Colonel Varrick and Major Franks, I 
think myself in honour bound to declare, that 
they, as well as Joshua Smith, Esq. (who I know 
is suspected) are totally ignorant of any trans- 
actions of mine, that they had reason to believe 
were injurious to the public." 

" Vulture, off Si7ismk, Sept. 25, 1780. 
" Sir, 

" I am this moment informed that Major An- 
dre, Adjutant-General of his Majesty's army in 
America, is detained as a prisoner by the army 
under your command. It is therefore incum- 
bent on me to inform you of the manner of his 
falling into your hands : He went up with a 
tlag at the request of General Arnold, on pub- 
lic business with him, and had his permit to 



40 



return by land to New- York. Under these cir- 
cumstances Major Andre cannot be detained 
by you, without the greatest violation of flags, 
and contrary to the custom and usage of all 
nations ; and as I imagine you will see this 
matter in the same point of view as I do, I 
must desire you will order him to be set at 
liberty, and allowed to return immediately. 
Every step Major Andre took was by the ad- 
vice and direction of General Arnold, even that 
of taking a feigned name, and of course not 
liable to censure for it. 
" I am, Sir, 

not forgetting former acquaintance, 
Your very humble servant, 

* BEV. ROBINSON, 
Col. Loyl. Americ. 
"///.§ Excellency 
General Washington^ 

''New -York, Sept. 26, 1780. 
" Sir, 

" Being informed that the King's Adjutant- 
General in America has been stopt, under Ma- 
jor-General Arnold's passports, and is detained 
a prisoner in your Excellency's army, I have 
the honour to inform you. Sir, that I permitted 
Major Andre to go to Major-General Arnold, at 
the particular request of that general officer. 
You will perceive, Sir, by the enclosed paper, 



41 



that a flag of truce was soit to receive Major 
Andre, and passports granted for liis return. 1 
therefore can have no doubt but your Excel- 
lency will immediately direct, that this officer 
has permission to return to my orders at New- 
York. 

" I have the honour to be, 

Your Excellency's most obedient, 
and most humble servant, 

H. CLINTON. 
^'His Excellcmij 
General WasJdngtonr 

''New -York, Sept. 26,1780. 
" Sir, 

" In answer to your Excellency's message, re- 
specting your Adjutant-General, Major Andre, 
and desiring my idea of the reasons why he is 
detained, being under my passports, I have the 
honour to inform you. Sir, that I apprehend a 
few hours must return Major Andre to your 
Excellency's orders, as that officer is assuredly 
under the protection of a flag of truce sent 
by me to him, for the purpose of a conver- 
sation which I requested to hold with him 
relating to myself, and which I wished to 
communicate through that officer to your 
Excellency. 

" I commanded at the time at West Point ; 

6 



42 



I)afl an undoubted right to send my ting of 
truce for Major Andre, who came to me under 
tliat protection, and having held my conver- 
sation with him, 1 deUvered him confidential 
papers in my own hand-writing, to deliver to 
your Excellency. Thinking it much properer 
he should return by land, I directed him to 
make use of the feigned name of John Ander- 
son, under which he had by my direction come 
on shore, and gave him my passports to go 
to the White Plains on his way to New-York. 
This officer cannot therefore fail of being im- 
mediately sent to New-York, as he was invited 
to a conversation with me, for which I sent him 
a flag of truce, and finally gave him passports 
for his safe return to your Excellency ; all 
which I had then a right to do, being in the 
actual service of America, under the orders of 
General Washington, and commanding general 
iit West Point and its dependencies. 
" I have the honour to be, 

Your Excellency's most obedient, 
and very humble servant, 

B. ARNOLD. 
'■'•His Eicclleneij 
Sir Henr>/ Cliufour 

The Board having considered the letter from 
his Excellency Genera! Washington respecting 



43 



Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the Biitisli 
army, the confet^sion of Ma_jor Andre, and the 
papers produced to them, Report to his Excel- 
lency, the Commander in Chief, the following 
facts, which appear to them relative to Major 
Andre. 

First, That he came on shore from the Vul- 
ture sloop of war in the night of the 21st of 
September instant, on an interview with Gen- 
eral Arnold, in a private and secret manner. 

Secondly, That he changed his dress within 
our lines ; and under a feigned name, and in 
a disguised habit, passed onr works at Stoney 
and Verplank's Points, the evening of the 22d 
of September instant, and was taken the morn- 
ing of the 23d of September instant, at Tarry 
Town, in a disguised habit, being then on his 
way to New-York ; and when taken, he had in 
his possession several papers, which contained 
intelligence for the enemy. 

The Board having maturely considered these 
facts, Do ALSO Report to his Excellency General 
Washington, That Major Andre, Adjutant-Gen- 
eral to the British armv, ought to be considered 
as a Spy from the enemy, and that, agreeable 
to the law and usage of nations, it is their opin- 
ion, he ought to suftei' death. 

Nath. Greene, M. CenL President. 



44 



Sterling, M. G. 



Ar. St. Clair, M. G. 
La Fayette, M. G. 
R Howe, M. G. 
Steuben, M. G. 
Samuel H. Parsons, B. Genl 
James Clinton, B. Genl. 
H. Knox, Brig. Genl. Artil. 
Jno. Glover, B. Genl. 
John Patterson, B. Genl. 
Eclwd. Hand, B. Genl. 
J. Huntington, B. Genl. 
John Starke, B. Genl. 

John Lawrance, J. A. Genl 

Copy of a letter from Major Andre, Adjutant- 
General, to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. &c. &c. 

''Tappa7i, Sept. 29, 1780. 
'' Sir, 

" Your Excellency is doubtless already ap- 
prized of the manner in which I was taken, 
and possibly of the serious light in which my 
conduct is considered, and the rigorous deter- 
mination that is impending. 

" Under these circumstances, I have obtained 
General Washington's permission to send you 
this letter; the object of which is, to remove 
liom \our breast any suspicion, that 1 could 



45 



imagine I was bound by your Excellency's or- 
ders to expose myself to what has happened. 
The events of coming within an enemy's posts, 
and of changing my dress, which led me to my 
present situation, were contrary to my own in- 
tentions, as they were to your orders ; and the 
circuitous route, which I took to return, was 
imposed (perhaps unavoidably) without alter- 
native upon me. 

" I am perfectly tranquil in mind, and pre- 
pared for any fate, to which an honest zeal for 
my King's service may have devoted me. 

"In addressing myself to your Excellency 
on this occasion, the force of all my obligations 
to you, and of the attachment and gratitude I 
bear you, recurs to me. With all the warmth 
of my heart, I give you thanks for your Excel- 
lency's profuse kindness to me ; and I send you 
the most earnest wishes for your welfare, which 
a faithful, affectionate, and respectful attendant 
can frame. 

" I have a mother and three sisters, to whom 
the value of my commission would be an ob- 
ject, as the loss of Grenada has much affected 
their income. It is needless to be more ex- 
plicit on this subject ; I am persuaded of your 
Excellency's goodness. 

" I receive the greatest attention from his Ex- 
cellency Genci'ai Washington, and from evei'y 



46 



person under whose charge I happen to l)e 
[)]ace(1. 

" I have tlie honour to be, 

With the most respectful attachment, 
Your Excellency's most obedient, 
and most humble servant, 

JOHN ANDRE, 
Adj utant-General. 
(Addressed) 
His Excdlcncij 
"•(Jcnend Sir Henry Clhiton, K B. &c. &c. &c." 

Copy of a letter from his Excellency General 
Washington, to his Excellency Sir Henry 

Clinton. 

^' Head- Quarters, Sept. 30, 1780. 
" Sir, 

" In answer to your Excellency's letter of the 
26th instant, which I had the honour to receive, 
I am to inform you, that Major Andre was taken 
under such circumstances as w^ould have justi- 
fied the most summary proceedings against him. 
I determined, however, to refer his case to the 
examination and decision of a Board of Gen- 
eral Oflicers, who have reported, on his free 
and voluntary confession and letters, " That he 
came on shore from the Vulture sloop of w^ar, 
in the night of the twenty-first of September 
instant," &c. &c. as in the report of the Boaid 
of General Officers. 



47 

" Fi'oiii tlioso proceedings, it is evident Major 
Andre was employed in the execution of meas- 
ures very foreign to the objects of flags of truce, 
and such as they were never meant to author- 
ize or countenance in the most distant degree ; 
and this gentleman confessed, with the great- 
est candour, in the course of his examination, 
" That it was impossible for him to suppose he 
came on shore under the sanction of a flag. 
" I have the honour to be, your Excellency's 
most obedient and most humble servant, 
G. WASHINGTON. 
(Addressed) 
" Ilis Excellency Sir Henry CUnion'' 

In this letter, Major Andre's of the 29th of 
September, to Sir Henry Clinton, was trans- 
mitted. 

''Nc?r-YorJc, 2Wi Sept. 1780. 
" Sir, 

"Persuaded that you are inclined rather to 
promote than prevent the civilities and acts of 
humanity, w4iich the rules of war permit be- 
tween civilized nations, I find no difficulty in 
representing to you, that several letters and 
messages sent from hence have been disre- 
garded, are unanswered, and the flags of truce 
that carried them detained. As I have ever 
treated all flags of truce with civility and re- 
spect, I have a right to hope, that you will 



48 



order my compLaint to be immediately re- 
dressed. 

"Major Andre, who visited an officer com- 
manding in a district at his own desire, and 
acted in every circumstance agreeable to his 
direction, I find is detained a prisoner : my 
friendship for him leads me to fear he may 
suffer some inconvenience for want of necessa- 
ries ; I wish to be allowed to send him a few, 
and shall take it as a favour if you will be 
pleased to permit his servant to deliver them. 
In Sir Henry Clinton's absence it becomes a 
part of my duty to make this representation 
and request. 

" I am, Sir, your Excellency's 
Most obedient humble servant, 
JAMES ROBERTSON, 
Lt. General. 

'^^ His Exccllcncij 
General Washington^ 

''Tappan, Sept 30, 1780. 
" Sir, 

" I have just received your letter of the 29th. 
Any delay which may have attended your flags 
has proceeded from accident and the peculiar 
circumstances of the occasion, not from inten- 
tional neglect or violation. The letter that ad- 
mitted of an answer, has received one as early 
as it could be given with propriety, transmitted 



49 

by a flag this morning. As to messages, I am 
uninformed of any that have been sent. 

" The necessaries for Major Andre will be de- 
livered to him agreeable to your request. 
" I am, Sir, 

Your most obedient, 
humble servant, 

G. WASHINGTON. 
'^His Excellency 
Lieut. General Robertson, 
New-Yorkr 

''New-York, Sept. 30, 1780. 
« Sir, 

" From your Excellency's letter of this date, 
I am persuaded the Board of General Officers, 
to whom you referred the case of Major Andre, 
cannot have been rightly informed of all the 
circumstances on which a judgment ought to 
be formed. I think it of the highest moment 
to humanity, that your Excellency should be 
perfectly apprized of the state of this matter, 
before you proceed to put that judgment in 
execution. 

" For this reason, I send his Excellency Lieut. 
General Robertson, and two other gentlemen, 
to give you a true state of facts, and to declare 
to you my sentiments and resolutions. They 
will set out to-morrow as early as the wind and 



50 



tide will permit, and wait near Dobb's ferry for 
your permission and safe conduct, to meet your 
Excellency, or such persons as you may appoint, 
to converse with them on this subject. 
" I have the honour to be, 
Your Excellency's 
Most obedient and 
most humble servant, 

H. CLINTON. 

"P.S. The Hon. Andrew Elliot, Esq. Lieut. 
Governor, and the Hon. William Smith, Chief- 
Justice of this province, will attend his Excel- 
lency Lieut. General Robertson. H. C. 

^^Ilis Excellencf/ 
General Washington^ 

Lieut. General Robertson, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. 
Smith, came up in a flag vessel to Dobb's ferry, 
agreeable to the above letter. The two last 
were not suffered to land. General Robertson 
was permitted to come on shore, and was met 
by Major General Greene, who verbally report- 
ed that General Robertson mentioned to him 
in substance what is contained in his letter of 
the 2d of October to General Washington. 

''New-York, Oct 1, 1780. 
« Sir, 

'' I take this opportunity to inform your Ex- 



51 

cellency, that I consider myself no longer act- 
ing under the commission of Congress : Their 
last to me being among my papers at West 
Point, you, Sir, will make such use of it as you 
think proper. 

"At the same time, I beg leave to assure 
your Excellency, that my attachment to the 
true interest of my country is invariable, and 
that I am actuated by the same principle which 
has ever been the governing rule of my con- 
duct, in this unhappy contest. 

" I have the honour to be, 
very respectfully, 

Your Excellency most obed't 
humble servant, 

B. ARNOLD. 
^^His Excellency General Washington!' 

Grreyliound Schooner, {Flag of Truce^ 

DohUs Ferry, Oct 2, 1780, 
" Sir, 

"A note I have from General Greene, leaves 
me in doubt if his memory had served him, to 
relate to you with exactness the substance of 
the conversation that had passed between 
^ him and myself, on the subject of Major Andre. 
In an affair of so much consequence to my 
friend, to the two armies, and humanity, I 
would leave no possibility of a misunderstand- 



52 



ing, and therefore take the liberty to put 
in writing the substance of what I said to 
General Greene. 

" I offered to prove, by the evidence of Col- 
onel Robinson and the officers of the Vulture, 
that Major Andre went on shore at General 
Arnold's desire, in a boat sent for him with a 
flag of truce ; that he not only came ashore 
with the knowledge and under the protection 
of the General who commanded in the district, 
but that he took no step while on shore but by 
direction of General Arnold, as will appear by 
the enclosed letter from him to your Excel- 
lency. 

" Under these circumstances I could not, and 
hoped you would not consider Major Andre as 
a sjDy, for any improper phrase in his letter to 
you. 

"The facts he relates correspond with the 
evidence I offer ; but he admits a conclusion 
that does not follow. The change of clothes 
and name was ordered by General Arnold, un- 
der whose direction he necessarily was, while 
within his command. As General Greene and 
I did not agree in opinion, I wished that dis- 
interested gentlemen, of knowledge of the law 
of war and nations, might be asked their opin- 
ion on the subject ; and mentioned Monsieur 
Knyphausen and General Rochambault. 



53 



" I related that a Captain Robinson had been 
delivered to Sir Henry Clinton as a spy, and 
undoubtedly was such : but that it being sig- 
nified to him that you were desirous that this 
man should be exchanged, he had ordered him 
to be exchano;ed. 

"I wished that an intercourse of such civil- 
ities, as the rules of war admit of, might take 
off many of its horrors. I admitted that Major 
Andre had a great share of Sir Henry Clinton's 
esteem, and that he would be infinitely obliged 
by his liberation ; and that if he was permitted 
to return with me, I would engage to have any 
person you would be pleased to name set at 
liberty. 

" I added, that Sir Henry Clinton had never 
put to death any person for a breach of the 
rules of war, though he had, and now has, many 
in his power. Under the present circumstances 
much good may arise from humanity, much ill 
from the want of it. If that could give any 
weight, I beg leave to add, that your favour- 
able treatment of Major Andre, will be a favour 
I should ever be intent to return to any you 
hold dear. 

" My memory does not retain, with the exact- 
ness I could wish, the words of the letter which 
General Greene showed me from Major Andre 
to your Excellency. For Sir Henry Clinton's 



64 



satisfaction, I beg you will order a copy of it 
to be sent to me at New-York. 

" I have the honour to be, 
Your Excellency's 
Most obedient, and 
most humble servant, 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 
^^Tlis Excellency 
General Washington^ 

''Neio-York, October 1, 1780. 
"Sir, 

" The polite attention shown by your Excel- 
lency and the gentlemen of your family to Mrs. 
Arnold, when in distress, demand my grateful 
acknowledgment and thanks, which I beg leave 
to present. 

" From your Excellency's letter to Sir Henry 
Clinton, I find a Board of General Officers have 
given it as their opinion, that Major Andre 
comes under the description of a spy : My good 
opinion of the candour and justice of those gen- 
tlemen leads me to believe, that if they had been 
made fully acquainted with every circumstance 
respecting Major Andre, that they would by no 
means have considered him in the light of a spy, 
or even of a prisoner. In justice to him, I think 
it my duty to declare, that he came from on 
board the Vulture at my particular request, by 
a flag sent on purpose for him by Joshua Smith, 



55 

Esq. who had permission to go to Dobb's ferry 
to carry letters, and for other purposes not 
mentioned, and to return. This was done as a 
bhnd to the spy-boats : Mr. Smith, at the same 
time, had my private instructions to go on 
board the Vulture, and bring on shore Colonel 
Robinson, or Mr. John Anderson, which was 
the name I had requested Major Andre to as- 
sume : At the same time I desired Mr. Smith to 
inform him, that he should have my protection, 
and a safe passport to return in the same boat, 
as soon as our business was completed. As 
several accidents intervened to prevent his be- 
ing sent on board, I gave him my passport to 
return by land. Major Andre came on shore 
in his uniform (without disguise) which, with 
much reluctance, at my particular and pressing 
instance, he exchanged for another coat. I fur- 
nished him with a horse and saddle, and pointed 
out the route by which he was to return. And 
as commanding officer in the department, I had 
an undoubted rig-ht to transact all these mat- 
ters ; which, if wrong. Major Andre ought by 
no means to suffer for them. 

"But if, after this just and candid representa- 
tion of Major Andre's case, the Board of Gen- 
eral Officers adhere to their former opinion, I 
shall suppose it dictated by passion and resent- 
ment ; and if that gentleman should suffer the 



56 



severity of their sentence, I shall think myself 
bound, by every tie of duty and honour, to re- 
taliate on such unhappy persons of your army, 
as may fall within my power, that the respect 
due to flags and to the law of nations may be 
better understood and observed. 

" I have further to observe, that forty of the 
principal inhabitants of South-Carolina have 
justly forfeited their lives, which have hitherto 
been spared by the clemency of his Excellency 
Sir Henry Clinton, who cannot in justice ex- 
tend his mercy to them any longer, if Major 
Andre suffers ; which in all probability will open 
a scene of blood at which humanity will revolt. 

"Suffer me to entreat your Excellency for 
your own and the honour of humanity, and the 
love you have of justice, that you suffer not an 
unjust sentence to touch the life of Major Andre. 

" But if this warning should be disregarded, 
and he suffer, I call Heaven and earth to wit- 
ness, that your Excellency will be justly an- 
swerable for the torrent of blood that may be 
spilt in consequence. 

" I have the honour to be, 
with due respect. 

Your Excellency's most obed't 
and very humble servant, 
13. ARNOLD. 

'^Tlis Excdlcncji 
General Washington^ 



57 

Tappan, October 1, 1780. 

" Buoyed above the terror of death, by the 
consciousness of a hfe devoted to honourable 
pursuits, and stained with no action that can 
give me remorse, I trust that the request I 
make to your Excellency at this serious period, 
and which is to soften my last moments, will 
not be rejected. 

" Sympathy towards a soldier will surely in- 
duce your Excellency and a military tribunal 
to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings 
of a man of honour. 

" Let me hope, sir, that if ought in my char- 
acter impresses you with esteem towards me, 
if ought in my misfortunes marks me as the 
victim of policy and not of resentment, I shall 
experience the operation of these feelings in 
your breast by being informed that I am not 
to die on a gibbet. 

" I have the honour to be, 

Your Excellency's most obedient 
and most humble servant, 
JOHN ANDRE, 
Adjutant-General, 
British Army. 
^'■Hh Excellency 

General Washiufftony 



58 



The time which elapsed between the capture 
of Major Andre, which was on the morning of 
the 23d of September, and his execution, which 
did not take place till twelve o'clock on the 2d 
of October ; — the mode of trying him ; — his 
letter to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. on the 29th 
of September, in which he said, " I receive the 
greatest attention from his Excellency Gen- 
eral Washington, and from every person under 
whose charge I happened to be placed;" — not 
to mention many other acknowledgments which 
he made of the good treatment he received ; — 
must evince that the proceedings against him 
were not guided by passion or resentment. The 
practice and usage of war were against his re- 
quest, and made the indulgence he solicited, 
circumstanced as he was, inadmissible. 
Puhlishcd hjj Order of Congress, 

CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ri/. 



IN CONGRESS. 



Novemher Sis/, 1780. 
" Whereas Congress has received information, 
that John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
Van Wart, three young volunteer militia of the 
State of New- York, did, on the 23d day of 
September last, intercept Major John Andre, 



59 



Adjutant-General of the British army, on his 
return from the American lines, in the character 
of a spy ; and notwithstanding the large bribes 
offered them for his release, nobly disdaining 
to sacrifice their country for the sake of gold, 
secured and conveyed him to the commanding 
officer of the district, whereby the dangerous 
and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold 
was brought to light, the insidious designs of 
the enemy baffled, and the United States res- 
cued from impending danger. 

''^Resolved, That Congress have a high sense 
of the virtuous and patriotic conduct of the 
said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
Van Wart : In testimony whereof — 

^'Ordered, That each of them receive annually, 
out of the public treasury, two hundred dol- 
lars in specie, or an equivalent in the current 
money of these states, during life ; and that the 
Board of War procure for each of them a silver 
medal, on one side of which shall be a shield 
with this inscription, " fidelity ; " and on the 
other the following motto, " vincit amor patri^," 
and forward them to the commander in chief, 
who is requested to present the same, with a 
copy of this resolution, and the thanks of Con- 
gress for their fidelity, and the eminent service 
they have rendered their country." 



60 



Extract from the recital to the act of the 
Legislature of the State, at the time granting 
to the captors of Andre each a farm. — The act 
recites, as a consideration, '■'tJieir virtue in refus- 
ing a large sum offered to them hy Major Andre, as 
a hrihe to permit him to escape" 

From the Evening Post, July 24th, 1802, in 
the lifetime of General Hamilton — Mr. Coleman 
the Editor ; — the letter was to the late Colonel 
Sears, then residing in Boston. 

[The following letter respecting the fate of Major 
Andre was written in the year 1780, by General 
Hamilton, then a colonel and aid-de-camp to Gen. 
Washino;ton. No doubt it has long been treasured 
up not only as a specimen of fine writing, but as 
the best Monument of the Facts relating to that 
affecting transaction. Gen. Hamilton has been ever 
considered an elegant writer, as well as a patriot and 
brave soldier, and we do presume that this produc- 
tion of his pen, although of ancient date, will be ac- 
ceptable and amusing to our readers. — Anti. Dcmo.~\ 

" Since my return from Hartford, my dear 
friend, my mind has been too little at ease to 
permit me to write to you sooner. It has been 
wholly occupied by the incidents, and the tragic 
consequences, of Arnold's treason. My feelings 
never were put to so severe a trial. You will 
have heard the principal facts before this reaches 



61 



you ; but there are particulars, to which my sit- 
uation gave me access, that cannot have come 
to your knowledge from public report, which 
I am persuaded you will find interesting. 

"From several circumstances, the project 
seems to have originated with Arnold himself, 
and to have been long ^premeditated. The first 
overture is traced to some time in June last 
It was conveyed in a letter to Col. Robinson, 
the subject of which was, that the ingratitude 
he had experienced from his country, concur- 
ring with other causes, had entirely changed 
his principles : that he now only sought to re- 
store himself to the favour of his prince by 
some signal proof of his repentance : and that 
he wished to open a correspondence with Sir 
Henry Clinton for this purpose. About that 
period he made a journey to Connecticut, on 
his return from which to Philadelphia, he solic- 
ited the command of West-Point ; alleging that 
the effects of his wound disqualified him for 
active duties of the field. The sacrifice of this 
important post was the atonement he intended 
to make. General Washington hesitated the 
less to gratify an officer who had frequently 
rendered eminent services, as he was convinced 
the post might be safely trusted to one w^ho 
had given so many distinguished proofs of his 
patriotism. The beginning of August he joined 



62 



the army, and renewed his application. The 
enemy, at this juncture, had embarked the 
greatest part of their force on an expedition 
to lihode Island, and our army was in motion, 
to compel them to relinquish the enterprise, 
or to attack New- York in its weakened state. 
The General offered Arnold the left wing of 
the army, which he declinedj on the pretext 
already mentioned ; but not without visible 
embarrassment He certainly might have exe- 
cuted the duties of such a temporary command, 
and it w^as expected from his enterprising tem- 
per that he would gladly have embraced so 
splendidly inviting an opportunity ; but he did 
not choose to be diverted a moment from his 
favourite object, probably from an apprehension 
that some different disposition might take place, 
wdiich would exclude him. The extreme solici- 
tude he discovered to get possession of the post, 
would have led to a suspicion of treachery, had 
it been possible from his past conduct to have 
supposed him capable of it. 

" The correspondence thus begun, was carried 
on between Arnold and Major Andre, adjutant- 
general to the British army, in behalf of Sir 
Henry Clinton, under feigned signatures, and a 
mercantile disguise. In an intercepted letter 
of Arnold's which lately fell into our hands, he 
proposes an interview, ' to settle the risks and 



63 

profit of co-partnership:' and in the same style 
of metaphor, intimates an expected augmen- 
tation of the garrison, and spealvs of it as the 
means of extending their traffic. It appears, 
by another letter, that Andre was to have met 
him on the lines, under the sanction of a flag, 
in the character of Mr. John Anderson. But 
some cause or other, not known, prevented this 
interview. 

"General Washington crossed the river in 
his w\ay to Hartford the day these despatches 
arrived. Arnold, conceiving he must have 
heard of the flag, thought it necessary, for the 
sake of appearances, to submit the letters to 
him, and ask his opinion of the propriety of 
complying with his request. The General, 
without his usual caution, though without the 
least sm^mise of the design, dissuaded him from 
it, and advised him to reply to Robertson, that 
whatever related to his private affairs must be 
of a civil nature, and could only properly be 
addressed to the civil authority. This refer- 
ence fortunately deranged the whole plan, and 
was the first link in the chain of events that 
led to the detection. The interview could no 
longer take place in the form of a flag, but was 
oblisi;ed to be manai^-ed in a secret manner. 

"Arnold employed one Smith to go on board 
the Vulture, and bring Andre ashore, with a pass 



64 



for Mr. John Anderson : Andre came ashore ac- 
cordingly, and was conducted within a picket of 
ours, to the house of Mr. Smith, where Arnold 
and he remained together in close conference 
all that night and the day following. At day- 
light in the morning, the commanding officer 
at King's-ferry, without the privity of Arnold, 
moved a couple of cannon to a point opposite 
where the Vulture lay, and obliged her to take 
a more remote station. This event, or some 
lurking distrust, made the boatmen refuse to 
convey the two passengers back, and discon- 
certed Arnold so much, that by one of those 
strokes of infatuation, which often confound the 
schemes of men conscious of guilt, he insisted 
on Andre's changing his uniform for a disguise, 
and returning in a mode different from that in 
which he came. Andre, who had been unde- 
signedly brought within our posts in the first 
instance, remonstrated warmly against this new 
and dangerous expedient. But Arnold persist- 
ing in declaring it impossible for him to return 
as he came, he at length reluctantly yielded 
to his persuasion, and consented to change his 
dress, and take the route he recommended. 
Smith furnished the disguise, and in the even- 
ing arriving at King's-ferry together, they pro- 
ceeded to Crompond, where they stopped the 
remainder of the night, at the instance of a 



65 

militia officer, to avoid being suspected by 
him. The next morning they resumed their 
journey, Smith accompanying Andre a Httle 
beyond Pine's-bridge, where he left him. He 
had reached Tarrytown, where he was taken 
by three militia men, who rushed out of the 
woods and surrounded him. 

"At this critical period, his presence of mind 
forsook him — instead of producing his pass, 
which would have extricated him from our 
parties, and could have done him no harm 
with his own, he asked the militia men if they 
were of the upper or lower party — distinctive 
appellations known among the enemy's refugee 
corps. The militia replied, they were of the 
lower party ; upon which he assured them he 
was a British officer, and pressed them not to 
detain him, as he was upon urgent business. 
This confession removed all doubt, and it was 
in vain he afterwards produced his pass. He 
was instantly forced off to a place of greater 
security, where he was carefully searched, and 
m his stocking feet were found several papers 
of importance, delivered to him by Arnold. 
Amongst these were a plan of the fortifica- 
tions of West-Point, a memorial from the en- 
gineer on the attack and defence of the place, 
returns of the place, returns of the garrison, 
cannon and stores, copy of a council of war, 



66 



held by General Washington a few weeks be- 
fore. 

"The prisoner was at first inadvertently or- 
dered to Arnold, but upon recollection, while 
he was still on the way, he was countermanded, 
and sent to Old Salem. The papers were en- 
closed in a letter to General Washington, which 
having taken a route different from that by 
which he returned, made a circuit, that afforded 
leisure for another letter, through an ill-judged 
delicacy written to Arnold, with an informa- 
tion of Anderson's capture, to get to him an 
hour before General Washington arrived at his 
quarters ; time enough to elude the fate that 
awaited him. He went down the river in his 
barge to the Vulture, with such precipitate con- 
fusion, that he did not take with him a single 
paper useful to the enemy. On the first notice 
of the affair, he was pursued, but much too late 
to overtake him. 

"A moment before his setting out he went 
into Mrs. Arnold's apartments, and informed her, 
that certain transactions had just come to light, 
which must for ever banish him from his coun- 
try. She fell into a swoon at this declaration, 
and he left her in it to consult his own safety, 
till the servants, alarmed by her cries, came 
to her relief She remained frantical all day, 
accusing every one who approached her, with 



67 



an intention of murdering her child, (an in- 
fant in her arms) exhibiting every other mark 
of the most genuine and agonizing affection. 
Exhausted by the fatigue and tumults of her 
spirits, her phrenzy subsided towards evening, 
and she sunk into all the sadness of distress. 
It was impossible not to have been touched 
with her situation ; every thing affecting in 
female tears, or in the misfortunes of beauty; 
every thing pathetic in the wounded tender- 
ness of a wife, or in the apprehensive fondness 
of a mother ; and every appearance of suffer- 
ing innocence, conspired to make her an object 
of sympathy to all who were present. She 
experienced the most delicate attentions, and 
every friendly office, till her departure for 
Philadelphia. 

"Andre, without loss of time, was conducted 
to the head-quarters of the army, where he was 
immediately brought before a board of general 
officers, to prevent all possibility of misrepre- 
sentation, or cavil on the part of the enemy. 
The board reported that he ought to be con- 
sidered as a spy, and, according to the laws and 
usages of nations, to suffer death ; which was 
executed two days after. 

" Never, perhaps, did a man suffer death with 
more justice, or deserve it less. The first step 
he took after his capture was to write a letter 



68 



to General Washington, conceived in terms of 
dignity without insolence, and apology without 
meanness. The scope of it was to vindicate 
himself from the imputation of having assumed 
a mean character for treacherous or interested 
purj)oses, asserting that he had been involun- 
tarily an impostor ; that, contrary to his inten- 
tion, which was to meet a person for intelligence, 
on neutral ground, he had been betrayed within 
our posts, and forced into the vile condition of 
an enemy in disguise ; soliciting only, that to 
whatever rigour policy might devote him, a 
decency of treatment might be observed, due 
to a person, who though unfortunate, had been 
guilty of nothing dishonourable. His request 
was granted in its full extent ; for, in the whole 
progress of the affair, he was treated with the 
most scrupulous delicacy. When brought be- 
fore the board of ofiicers, he met with every 
mark of indulgence, and was required to an- 
swer no interrogatory which could even embar- 
rass his feeling. On his part, while he carefully 
concealed every thing that involved others, he 
frankly confessed all the facts that related to 
himself; and upon his confession, without the 
trouble of examining a witness, the board made 
their report. The members of it were not more 
impressed with the candour and modest firm- 
ness, mixed with a becoming sensibility which 



69 

he displayed, than he was penetrated with their 
liberaHty and politeness. He acknowledged the 
generosity of the behaviour towards him in 
every respect, but particularly in this, in the 
strongest terms of manly gratitude. In a con- 
versation with a gentleman, who visited him 
after his trial, he said — he flattered himself he 
had never been illiberal, but if there were any 
remarks of prejudice in his mind, his present 
experience must obliterate them. 

"In one of the visits I made to him, (and I 
saw him several times during his confinement) 
he begged me to be the bearer of a request to 
the general, for permission to send an open let- 
ter to Sir Henry Clinton. " I foresee my fate, 
(said he) and though I pretend not to play the 
hero, or to be indifferent about life, yet I am 
reconciled to whatever may happen, conscious 
that misfortune, not guilt, will have brought it 
upon me. There is only one thing that disturbs 
my tranquillity. Sir Henry Clinton has been 
too good to me ; he has been lavish of his 
kindness. I am bound to him by too many 
obligations, and love him too well, to bear the 
thought that he should reproach himself, or 
that others should reproach him, on a suppo- 
sition that I had conceived myself obliged by 
his instructions to run the risk I did. I would 
not for the world leave a sting in his mind that 



70 



should embitter his future days." He could 
scarce finish the sentence, bursting into tears 
in spite of his efforts to suppress them, and 
with difficulty collected himself enough after- 
wards to add, "I wish to be permitted to assure 
him I did not act under this impression, but 
submitted to a necessity imposed upon me, as 
contrary to my own inclination as to his or- 
ders." His request was readily complied with, 
and he wrote the letter annexed, with which, I 
dare say, you will be as much pleased as I am, 
both for the diction and sentiment. 

" When his sentence was announced to him, 
he remarked, that since it was his lot to die, as 
there was a choice in the mode, which would 
make a material difference to his feelings, he 
would be happy, if it were possible, to be in- 
dulged with a professional death. He made 
a second application by letter, in concise but 
persuasive terms. It was thought this indul- 
gence, being incompatible with the custom of 
war, could not be granted ; and it was therefore 
determined in both cases to evade an answer, to 
spare him the sensations which a certain knowl- 
edge of the intended mode would inflict. 

" When he was led out to the place of exe- 
cution, as he went along he bowed familiarly to 
all those with whom he had been acquainted 
in his confinement, A smile of complacency 



71 



expressed the serene fortitude of his mind. 
Arrived at the fatal spot, he asked, with some 
emotion, "must I then die in this manner?" 
He was told it had been unavoidable. " I 
am reconciled to my fate, (said he) but not to 
the mode." Soon, however, recollecting him- 
self, he added, " it will be but a momentary 
pang ;" and springing upon the cart, performed 
the last offices to himself, with a composure 
that excited the admiration and melted the 
hearts of the beholders. Upon being told the 
final moment was at hand, and asked if he had 
any thing to say, he answered, " Nothing, but 
to request you will witness to the world that I 
die like a brave man." Among the extraordi- 
nary circumstances that attended him in the 
midst of his enemies, he died universally es- 
teemed and universally regretted. 

" There was something singularly interesting 
in the character and fortunes of Andre. To an 
excellent understanding, well improved by edu- 
cation and travel, he united a peculiar elegance 
of mind and manners, and the advantage of a 
pleasing person. 'Tis said he possessed a pretty 
taste for the fine arts, and had himself attained 
some proficiency in poetry, music, and painting. 
His knowledge appeared without ostentation, 
and embellished by a diffidence, that rarely at- 
tended so many talents and accomplishments, 



72 

which left you to suppose more than appeared. 
His sentiments were elevated, and inspired es- 
teem ; they had a softness that conciliated affec- 
tion. His elocution was handsome, his address 
easy, polite, and insinuating. By his merit he 
had acquired the unlimited confidence of his 
General, and was making a rapid progress in 
military rank and reputation. But in the height 
of his career, flushed with new hopes from the 
execution of a project the most beneficial to his 
party that could be devised, he is at once pre- 
cipitated from the summit of prosperity ; sees 
all the expectations of his ambition blasted, 
and himself ruined. 

" The character I have given of him is drawn 
partly from what I saw of him myself, and 
partly from information. I am aware that a 
man of real merit is never seen in so favoura- 
ble a light as through the medium of adversity. 
The clouds that surround him are so many 
shades that set off his good qualities. Misfor- 
tune cuts down little vanities that, in prosperous 
times, serve as so many spots in his virtues, and 
gives a tone of humanity that makes his worth 
more amiable. His spectators, who enjoy a hap- 
pier lot, are less prone to detract from it through 
envy ; and are much disposed by compassion, to 
give hiui the credit he deserves, and perhaps 
even to magnify it. 



78 



" I speak not of Andre's conduct in the affair 
as a philosopher, but as a man of the world. — 
The authorized maxims and practices of war 
are the satire of human nature. They counte- 
nance almost every species of seduction as well 
as violence ; and the general that can make 
most traitors in the army of his adversary, is 
frequently most applauded. On this scale we 
acquit Andre ; while we could not but condemn 
him if we were to examine his conduct by the 
sober rules of philosophy and moral rectitude. 
It is however a blemish in his fame, that he once 
intended to prostitute a flag ; about this a man 
of nice honour ought to have had a scruple ; 
but the temptation was great : let his misfor- 
tune cast a veil over his error. 

"Several letters from Sir Henry Clinton 
and others, were received, feebly attempting 
to prove, that Andre came out under the pro- 
tection of a flag w^ith a passport from a gen- 
eral officer in actual service, and consequently 
could not be justly detained. Clinton sent 
a deputation, composed of lieutenant-general 
Robertson, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. William Smith, 
to represent, as he said, the state of Major An- 
dre's case. General Greene met Robinson, and 
had a conversation with him, in which he reit- 
erated the pretence of a flag, urged Andre's re- 
lease as a personal favour to Sir Henry Clinton, 

10 



74 

and offered any friend of onrs in their power 
in exchange. Nothing could have been more 
frivolous than the plea which was used. The 
fact was, that besides the time, manner and ob- 
ject of the interview, change of dress, and other 
circumstances, there was not a single formality 
customary with flags ; and the passport was not 
to Major Andre, but to Mr. Anderson. But had 
there, on the contrary, been all the formalities, 
it would be an abuse of language to say, the 
sanction of a flag for corrupting an officer to 
betray his trust ought to be obligatory. So 
unjustifiable a purpose would not only destroy 
its validity, but make it an aggravation. 

"Andre himself has answered the argument, 
by ridiculing and exploding the idea in his ex- 
amination before the board of officers. It was 
a weakness to urge it. There was, in truth, no 
way of saving him : Arnold or he must have 
been the victim ; the former was out of our 
power. 

"It was by some suspected, Arnold had taken 
his measures in such a manner, that if the 
interview had been discovered, in the act, it 
might have been in his power to sacrifice 
Andre to his own security. This surmise of 
double treason, made them imagine Clinton 
might be induced to give up Arnold for An- 
dre ; and a gentleman took occasion to sug- 



75 

gest this expedient to the latter, as a thing 
that might be proposed by him : He decHned it 
— the moment he had been guilty of so much 
frailty, I should have ceased to esteem him. 

"The infamy of Arnold's conduct, previous 
to his desertion, is only equalled by his mean- 
ness since. Besides the folly of writing to Sir 
Henry Clinton, assuring him that Andre had 
acted under a passport from him, and accord- 
ing to his directions, while commanding officer 
at a post, and that, therefore, he did not doubt, 
he would be immediately in ; he had the effi'on- 
tery to write to General Washington, to the 
same purpose, with the addition of a menace 
of retaliation, if the sentence should be carried 
into execution. He has since acted the farce 
of sendino; in his resio-nation. This man is 
in every sense despicable. In addition to the 
scene of knavery and prostitution, during his 
command in Philadelphia, which the late seiz- 
m^e of his papers has unfolded ; the history of 
his command at West-Point is a history of little 
as well as great villanies. He practised every 
art of peculation, and even stooped to connex- 
ions with the suttlers of the garrison to defraud 
the public. 

" To his conduct, that of the captors of Andre 
forms a striking contrast : he tempted their in- 
tegrity with the offer of his watch, his horst\ 



76 

and any sum of money they should name. 
They rejected his offers with indignation : and 
the gold that could seduce a man high in the 
esteem and confidence of his country, who had 
the remembrance of past exploits, the motives 
of present reputation and future glory to prop 
his integrity, had no charms for three simple 
peasants, leaning only on their virtue and a 
sense of duty. While Arnold is handed down 
with execration to future times, posterity will 
repeat with reverence the names of Van Warty 
Paiddiug, and Williams^ 



REMARKS. 

A few only, in addition to those by Mr. Gar- 
denier, in his editorial paragraph, Courier, IStli 
February, will be necessary. Some, as will be 
perceived, have become so by the subsequent 
ajDpearance of the Pcnnsi/lvania article in our 
papers. It was republished here, and as de- 
clared by Mr. Dwight to Mr. Gardenier, at the 
request of Colonel Tallmadge ; he thereby vir- 
tually making it his own, resjionsible for the 
truth of the facts, and among them, for these 
to be particularly noted, " that the captors of 
Major Andre took iwo watches from him ; that 



77 

they took coin from him ; that ho offered to 
reward them if they would take him to New- 
York ; that they hesitated ; that he declared 
it as his opinion, that the reason why they 
did not do so, was the impossibility, on his 
part, to secure to them the performance of 
the promise ; that the informant of the writer 
of the article supported him to the place of 
execution; that on the way he sent for Colo- 
nel Tallmadge to come near him, that he 
miG;ht learn the manner in which he was to 
die." As to some of these facts, let it be 
briefly repeated and stated, that the captors 
aver the oiAy money or currency they took from 
him was j^apcr, and that they took only one 
watch ; that, according to General Hamilton, 
the unfortunate man was not ascertained of 
the manner in which he was to suffer until by 
the sight of the fatal mean, the gibbet, all pre- 
vious notice or intimation of it having been 
designedly withheld from him ; and that so far 
from requiring to be supported, he sprany on the 
cart and performed the last office himself As 
to one of the facts. Colonel Tallmadge is even 
at variance with himself — In the report of his 
speech in Congress he is made to say, that the 
captors demanded the reward, and specified the 
amount, and that Major Andre refused to yive it ; 
when considered as speaking through the Penn- 



78 

sylvania article, he says, that Major Andre offered 
the reward and they refused to taJte it. If the 
last is the fact^ we have then the evidence^ as 
furnished by Colonel Tallmadge himself, of the 
very virtue^ the consideration of the honours and 
bounty of their country to them ; but if the 
first is the fact, then they are unquestionably 
to be given up as hrihcd — they were bribed 
in their hearts, and that is enough ; protesting, 
solemnly protesting, at the same time, against 
the hearsay, the declarations of Major Andre, 
and, by whomsoever repeated, as proof. Bribe ! 
— Has Colonel Tallmadge been hitherto uncon- 
scious of the reflection, how honourable to the 
character of our country at the time, to those 
who were in the revolution, to the cause itself 
of the revolution, Arnold the single instance 
where the defection to be traced to a hrihe? 
" It was the opinion of Major Andre, and, on 
his aidhority, it became the opinion of Colonel 
Tallmadge, that if Major Andre could have 
given to the captors the sum they demanded, 
they would have released him." It is said to 
have been the opinion of Sir Robert Walpole, 
that every man has his price. The sentiment, as 
meant by him, is licentious ; still, in one view 
of it, there is reason to fear it is too true. — 
Whenever I deviate from truth or rectitude, 
and whether from vile sordid lucre, or whatever 



79 

may be the gratification, the tempter may be 
said to have succeeded with his hrihe ; he has 
found imj iwicc. I apply this remark to my- 
self, and do not hesitate to apply it to John 
Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams ; 
hence it behooves them and me to be ever 
guarded how we '■^ first cast a stoned 

" Cowhoys " — When the British troops ad- 
vanced into Westchester County, in the au- 
tumn of 1776, those of the inhabitants who 
were in favour of the revolution, moved off 
to the northern towns of the county, or to the 
adjacent towns in Dutchess County, or Connec- 
ticut ; those who were opposed to it remained. 
The British and American lines soon became 
stationary, and remained so generally through 
the war, leaving a sjDace of country between 
them from the North River to the Sound, and 
in depth from the town of Westchester to the 
southern frontier of the northern towns, in the 
county, a distance of about twenty miles. At 
this juncture, 27th December, 1776, the Con- 
vention of the state passed a resolve, " requir- 
ing all the male inhabitants of the county, of 
the age of sixteen years and upwards, without 
discrimination, to take an oath of allegiance to 
the state, within a limited time, or be put out 
of the protection of the state, and treated as 
open enemies." The pillage of the Recusants, 



80 

or those who refused to take the oath, although 
in this manner legalized, was still, and notwith- 
standing the hostility between the parties in 
the contest, considered as disreputable ; but 
whether the cases in which it actually took 
place, and whether the persons engaged in it, 
called in contumely Cowhoijs, and at times also 
simmers, would, on inquiry, the regular or direct 
proof being called for, appear as numerous as 
from Colonel Tallmadge's representation, we 
would be led to suppose they were, I think 
may be questioned. Indeed, if we are to be- 
lieve they were so in numbers as to form a 
class of persons, and if it also appertained to 
them " to be passing between both armies, and 
as often in one camp as the other," we may 
then perhaps find some difficulty in believing, 
at the same time, there was due vigilance in 
the officers in command on the lines — scarce 
a day and the enemy not furnished with intelli- 
gence. Colonel Tallmadge has certainly been 
singularly unfortunate in applying the latter 
portion of the description of the Coivboy inter- 
course and good fellowship with the enemy, to 
John Paulding, it having happened, of which, 
however, it is possible Colonel Tallmadge was 
unapprized at the time, that he was three 
times a prisoner, twice he escaped, and instantly 
again in arms ; when captured the third time 



81 



he was wounded, and was languishing in cap- 
tivity until discharged on the peace. Incidents 
of like peculiar proof of decisiveness of charac- 
ter and conduct, and of firm unyielding spirit, 
do not perhaps occur in the history of any other 
individual during the whole of the war. 

"Had I met with these persons," asserts Colo, 
nel Tallmadge, "I would as soon have appre- 
hended them as Major Andre." This is nmv his 
opinion of what he would then have done. If I 
might vcnhwe an opinion, it would be, he would 
not have apprehended them, because it would 
have been unwarranted in him ; they were duly 
in the service of their country; they were in 
the way of their duty, intercepting or ^'■prevent- 
ing supplies to the enemyl'' and he had no right to 
interrupt them in it; they had a right to be 
where they were ; they had a right, had they 
chosen it, to approach nearer to the lines of 
the enemy, nearer to danger. 

" These persons brought in Major Andre only 
because they should probably get more for his 
apprehension than for his release." This sur- 
mise betrays an astuteness to discover unmeri- 
torious motive seldom witnessed. From what 
case, or on what ground, were they to calculate 
which to be preferred, to taJce the present hriJ)e, 
or vjait the future recompense ? 

The question has been put to me, and more 
11 



82 



than once, whence I .suppose Colonel TaHmadge 
moved in this instance if not by sense of duty ? 
and the answer has uniformly been, that where 
a person does an act, beneficial in its effects to 
another, the motive ought never to be made a 
question ; the act should be left to speak for 
itself, and the agent to have entire credit for it ; 
but where the effects the reverse, injurious, and 
especially, as here, most aggravatedly so, for 
unless Colonel Tallmadge meant these persons 
were in future to be considered as worthless, it 
is not to be conceived what he did mean, there 
the formal or artificial reasoning, that because 
no bad motive obvious, a good one to be in- 
tended, will not always satisfy ; that no one 
can know what passes in the heart of another, 
there can be no more than a rational probable 
persuasion of it by deduction from the facts 
and circumstances ; that the declaration of the 
party, even where from necessity admissible, at 
best feeble proof; that correctness of motive 
has usually as its concomitant consistency of 
conduct; that sense of duty is of an highly 
active nature, never abiding long with passivity 
and silence ; that at the same time it restrains 
from haste and indiscretion, indeed, where it 
has tailed to do so, it has failed to entitle itself 
to be received as excuse or apology, if injury 
has ensued. Major Andre complaiucd to Colonel 



83 



Tallmudf^c of supposed nnjiistifiable violence^ or, 
ill Colonel Tallmadge's own phase, of rohhery ; 
the complaint not reported to the commander 
in chief or other person authorized to redress 
it ; the aggressors, the persons charged, on the 
spot, and never questioned ; he might have 
been told that the ialdng being proved, then 
whether rohhery or not, usually a question of 
construdioiz, and that, he being an enemy, and 
on his way to the enemy, to take from him his 
watch, horse, saddle, bridle, and whatever other 
effects he had with him, was rightful, and so his 
complaint satisfied ; he might have been told 
that Colonel Smith was frequently at head- 
quarters, and familiarly there, and selected to 
have the out-post on the west side of the river, 
opposite to Dobbs' Ferry, whence flags and mes- 
sages to the enemy were usually despatched, 
and those from them received, intrusted to him, 
and so to have had an hope that the watch had 
been redeemed to be sent to his family. Colo- 
nel Smith died a few months before Colonel 
Tallmad ore's intended disclosure in Congress, 
the last of the ivituesses, and hence the latter 
circumstance can now be only inthiudcd as a 
iwohabillty. The year after the capture, the 
medals, decreed to the captors, presented to 
them with some solemnity, in the presence of 
the army assembled in the neighbourhood of 



84 



where Colonel Tallmadge was serving at the 
time. Twenty years thereafter he reads in the 
Evening Post, among our journals of the most 
extensive circulation, General Hamilton's letter, 
republished for the express purpose of preserv- 
ing it as a 3fomiment, a record of the Facts ; — 
for years and years together, he a member of 
congress, one of the grand inquest of the nation 
to inquire into abuse and imposition, and these 
persons constantly yearly receiving a sum out 
of the public treasury as a reward, and which, 
according to him, originated in their own false 
suggestion, ought never to have been granted, 
and of course to be recalled, and during the 
whole of the time, a period of thirty-seven 
years, and all these several occasions, and 
others which mit2;ht be mentioned, were it not 
that these remarks would be considered as 
thereby protracted to an unnecessary length, 
occurring, and Colonel Tallmadge passive and 
SILENT. One word more ; — surely there never 
was an instance of such total disregard of what 
others may feel and suffer, and for a purpose so 
utterly, utterly trivial. — Let this suffice. 

CURATOR. 



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